Craig Kapitan is a Senior Multimedia Journalist for New Zealand's Herald, with extensive experience reporting on crime, navigating courtrooms, and supervising other crime and courts reporters.
I started my newspaper career in 2000 and have spent the majority of my time since then navigating courtrooms in the United States and New Zealand or supervising other crime and courts reporters. Along the way, I’ve covered the trials of a military base mass shooter, gang hitmen, rogue police officers and prison guards and more murder and death penalty cases than I can recall. Non-courtroom assignments have included rushing to a small Texas town where remnants of Nasa’s Columbia space shuttle rained down after its explosion, coverage of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, a one-on-one interview with former US President George Bush Sr and a surreal ride in Chuck Norris' ute during which I quizzed the actor about his favourite Chuck Norris jokes. Some of my proudest moments in journalism include an investigative series that helped result in the criminal conviction of a judge and a 20,000-word, four-part story about a decorated police officer whose life was nearly destroyed by PTSD after serving as a sniper in Iraq. The later series resulted in a 2008 Livingston Award, which dubs itself the Pulitzer Prize for reporters under 35. I tied in the ‘excellence in national reporting’ category with The New York Times’ CIA reporter. I studied journalism at the University of Missouri and worked for newspapers in San Francisco and Texas before moving to Auckland in 2015. I spent six years in the TVNZ newsroom before starting at that Herald in 2021.

Caught on tape: Identity finally revealed of Jaguar-driving teen behind CBD rampage
Police and footpath pedestrians had to dodge the vehicle to avoid getting run over.

'This was your fault,' judge tells boy racer who hit pregnant teen, killing baby
Now 24-year-old asked for home detention for the highly unusual manslaughter case.

Man accused of murdering daughter with pillow is named
The man has pleaded not guilty, by reason of insanity.

How two child sex abuse survivors brought 'monster' to justice
'Accountability matters,' one of his victims said as she confronted him after 30 years.

Trio sentenced after kidnap victim dragged from library with severed fingertip
The victim was later stripped down to his underwear and beaten.

Shark tattoo comes back to bite fake cop in escape bid to Rarotonga
He wanted to start over, but first the long-time conman needed a fake passport.

Robber left path of destruction during wrong-way race to airport in stolen $82k Audi
He damaged a police car, an Audi and used a convertible as a battering ram.

Neighbours heard cries for help as security guard beaten to death in Auckland reserve
Lorenzo Tangira pleaded guilty to murder today. It was set to be the start of his trial.

'Naughty' parolee holding woman at gunpoint left after telling off from toddler
He had earlier been locked up for outrageously dangerous driving. It was caught on video.

Duo jailed after vigilante burglary of Epsom mansion terrorises wrong woman
They were paid to target a woman embroiled in an alleged international pyramid scheme.

Baby-killing Mobster loathed being called 'kid killer' in prison, so he murdered again
Donovan Duff was already serving a life sentence. He was handed another one today.

Charge withdrawn in family feud murder case
Tensions erupted in the courtroom in April when the shooter pleaded guilty.

Pair accused of $735k illicit cigarette scheme arrested at airport, to appear in court today
Customs has accused the pair of attempting to smuggle almost 500,000 cigarettes into NZ.

Coconuts and meth: The story behind NZ's largest pseudoephedrine prosecution
Judge dismissed businessman's claim that he'd never heard of NZ's drug trade.

'Militant, paranoid': Comanchero 501 deportee sentenced after record drug bust
Gang associate kicked out of Australia for arson became truck driver for 613kg drug bust.

How an Australian ex-banker's NZ visit resulted in a prison sentence
Police caught pair red-handed after they were flown to Auckland for a cocaine burglary.

'Fractures on every limb': Daycare's concerns leads to discovery of infant's abuse
Doctors compiled a two-page list of injuries on the baby, who was covered in bruises.

Man's 'devil' visions, LSD use led to scientist's fatal stabbing
The accused, deemed unfit for trial, left a bloody knife engraved with his nickname.

Driver accused of fatal Auckland bus stop assault appears in court
A 61-year-old was later found unresponsive at the bus stop.

Meth-smuggling bigamist who dodged deportation for 28 years jailed for rape
He was once known as the longest-serving remand prisoner in New Zealand history.

Gangster altered ankle bracelet to look like he was at home while running drugs, 3D guns
He was given mercy after a coordinated prison attack left him with possible brain damage.

Stream of accusations continue for ex-Marist Brother teacher
'He must realise he’s booked a one-way ticket to hell,' says the latest man to speak out.

Paedophile teacher's 40th conviction: Crimes continue to haunt survivors
His eighth confirmed victim stared him down in court this week. Others may be waiting.

'Unforgivable': Auckland man jailed for indecency with three young girls
He groped three girls, aged 5 to 8, on separate occasions.

'Blood is thicker': Imprisoned father wins appeal after threatening a witness in son's case
The son got a discharge without conviction but perverting justice led to jail for his dad.

Church-going bank employee led secret life laundering $3m for meth syndicate
He was a literal poster boy for ASB but also corrupted colleagues, collected P shipments.

'Gratuitous, mindless violence': Homeless man jailed for fatal bus stop attack on 60yo
A rough sleeper killed a man after waking up agitated at a South Auckland bus stop.

Confessed Ellerslie double murderer handed life sentence for bloody plot
A senior orthopaedic nurse and his wife were killed in November 2023.

'Stole my childhood': Sexual predator foster carer given 23-year sentence
'Your life was a lie,' the judge said, but he declined an indefinite sentence.

Comanchero v Comanchero crime: Second man admits terrorising bodybuilder's family
A prospect and three patched members were investigated, including the national president.

Why young Head Hunters prospect wasn't jailed for 'utterly reprehensible' torture case
He arrived to find the victim naked and bound, then he joined in.

'Sparks flying': Head Hunters associate crashed through school gates in spiked, stolen Audi
He has since sobered up and re-evaluated his life choices, his lawyer says.

Deadly conspiracy fails: How the Killer Beez thwarted inner-circle plot to kill rival
There was a fragile truce after weeks of gang warfare. The violence almost re-ignited.

Judge grants mercy for phone repairer who went viral trying to AirDrop intimate photo
His name cannot be published but his face is all over the internet.

Rare sentence for rapist who posed as teen on Snapchat to lure 13yo victim
He insists it's all a conspiracy, leaving no hope for rehabilitation, the Crown says.

Inside the Comancheros revenge plot against bodybuilder's family after gang exit stoush
It was a messy break-up for the high-ranking patched member. His family paid the price.

Jail for woman who stabbed cabbie six times after announcing she couldn't pay fare
The woman, who had been out of prison less than a month, victimised an Afghan refugee.

NZ's largest corporate corruption case: How two Australians duped Spark with $20m in contracts
Corrupt company directors Sean Bryan and Mark Lester are headed to prison.

High-risk sex offender abused boy, 4, while in emergency housing
'Something's not right up here', he admitted when police asked why he abused two victims.

Arsonist blames meth and psychedelics after $4m Auckland lodge destroyed in blaze
She predicted to a friend she would burn the place down, then she followed through.

Former police officer and wife arrested after attack at Boyz II Men concert at Spark Arena
An ex-police officer threatened to dig up the victim's deceased mum.

'You wait. I’ll get you': Motorist mowed down sister's abusive partner
Now he's appealed, saying prison was manifestly excessive for the crime.

Youth worker and brother of ex-MP guilty of historical child sex abuse
'I know what this is about', Taiawa Harawira said when police came to arrest him.

'Despicable': Swindlers imprisoned for $100k 'blessing scam' holiday
New Zealand needs to send a message that it's not an easy target, the judge said.

Teen accused of murdering US student at Auckland bus stop pleads not guilty
Not guilty pleas were entered through lawyers.

Seven years after teen's murder, 16yo kidnap participant named
Dimetrius Pairama, 17, was tortured for hours before she was forced to hang herself.

Mongrel Mob mum jailed after going into hiding during daughter's murder trial
Kelly-Anne Burns never returned after being granted short-term bail to attend a funeral.

Korean tourist going home with wife's remains after causing crash which killed her
Couple’s dream NZ holiday to celebrate 'growing old together' ends in tragedy.

Avondale man accused of murdering partner loses name suppression
Name suppression for Hao Feng lapsed after four months of court-ordered anonymity.

Ellerslie double murder: Co-defendant's secret guilty pleas can now be revealed
On the first day of his scheduled trial last week, Shu Poon admitted killing the couple.

Pimp exploited 14yo girl, then made her a lieutenant in child prostitution ring
He convinced the teen to recruit her friends. Until now, his identity was hidden.

Sadistic chivalry with a power tool: Gang member admits drilling holes in stranger's thigh
A man slapped a woman's bottom in a nightclub... her boyfriend got cruel revenge.

'I’m going to kill us both': Man smashed into stationary truck after hearing break-up news
The toxic relationship ended with the defendant and his now ex both needing surgery.

Inside the secret 3-year criminal case against Auckland's luxury doggy daycare
Prosecutors claim the firm earned $180k in extra profits by ignoring resource consents.

'Grave error': Police officer sentenced after fatal high-speed chase
He asked the judge to keep his identity secret permanently, hoping to return to his job.

Snapchat nudes and alcohol: Female teacher groomed 15yo student before sex acts
Her lawyer said the victim's gender made the crime less serious. The judge disagreed.

Double-murder trial aborted after just one day
He was also accused of plotting to kill his former landlord.

'Smell of death': Resentment over minor accident sparked double murder, Crown says
Joseph Kwok was stabbed to death after his address was released by the Justice Ministry.

‘**** off’: Stephen Stone storms out of courthouse after Crown's double murder retrial bid dropped
Stone spent 25 years in prison following the 'Gone Fishing' cold case trial in Auckland.

Ex-prefect stood to strike it rich with maple syrup meth scheme – here's why it failed
The maple syrup shipment contained enough methamphetamine to supply all of NZ for a year.

How desperate business loan led single mum into meth syndicate’s inner circle
Reaching out to loan sharks over WeChat turned out to be a bad idea. She is now in jail.

Inmate stabbed 40 times in prison exercise yard attack by Mongrel Mob quartet
One attacker was already serving time for the robbery and killing of a cancer patient.

Home detention for serial thief who tasered cop, stole car as owner clung to bonnet
He later repeatedly rammed a police vehicle with the car he had stolen.

Business owner's double life as city's most prolific tagger, 'Blume'
He owned a company worth seven figures by day. By night, he caused over $1m in damage.

'That's what happens when you f*** with family': How a family feud ended in gang murder
Rebel MC member gunned down at close range by Head Hunter after five previous incidents.

Ferrari-driving gang member admits importing 613kg drugs, faces losing $7m in assets
The main target in Operation Weirton has pleaded guilty on the eve of High Court trial.

Hit and slammed against wall: Former X Factor NZ contestant sentenced for family violence
Nofo Lameko skipped his sentencing in December to go on tour.

Gang member jailed for perverting justice after fake funeral bail bid
He sought compassionate bail, claiming his godmother had died – she didn't exist.

Well-known Auckland artist used baby as decoy in prison drug-smuggling attempt
Visiting hours included a cuddle, a hug and multiple pills stuffed down an inmate's shirt.

Police officer sentenced for ramming motorbike, attacking rider in unlawful arrest
The officer, a part-time driving instructor, said he mixed up the brake and accelerator.

'A suffocating hell': Family of execution-style murder victim speak out
CCTV clearly shows anger and reckless bravado, the judge said at the shooter's sentencing.

Crips revenge plot was recorded in prison calls, but was it murder? Trial ends without answer
A third jury will have to decide after the defendants' latest trial ended in a deadlock.

‘Catch me if you can, motherf*****,’ teen taunted from NZ after Perth meat cleaver attack
It's taken nine years, but Australian police are one step closer to catching up with him.

Son of UN rep jailed for stabbing elderly man to death in Auckland
A stranger had taken Sergio Williams into his home. He overstayed his welcome.

‘Trapped’: Business owner bribed Immigration NZ employees, exploited migrants
Migrants weren't told they were working illegally until after they arrived from Samoa.

Within days of arriving in NZ, Aussie man helped scam 71yo out of $150k
The reluctant NZ resident wants to make up for the fraud – with volunteer work, not cash.

Watch: ‘Out of control’ – Teen Jaguar driver’s dangerous rampage
Neurodiversity paired with lack of boundaries was partly blamed for ramming a police car.

‘What evil looks like’: 501 paedophile swayed Australian judge, then offended again in NZ
An Auckland judge took a rare step this week by ordering a sentence with no end date.